PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY OF 168 EARLY-STAGE CANCERS OF THE LUNG AND ESOPHAGUS - A JAPANESE MULTICENTER STUDY

In 1994, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan approved photodyn amic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of early stage lung cancer (TO an d T1), superficial oesophageal cancer, superficial early stage gastric cancer and carcinoma in situ and/or dysplasia of the cervix, The deci sion to do so was based on studies carried out by the PDT Research Gro up of the Ministry, including PDT treatment of 168 early stage central lung cancers (123 superficial lesions and 45 nodular lesions) and 32 superficial oesophageal cancers. The results presented in this article were analysed according to the extent of the lesion. Of the 123 super ficial lung cancers, complete remission (CR) was obtained in 93% of 89 lesions less than 1.0 cm in diameter. Larger lesions responded less w ell. Complete remission was obtained in 97% of the 33 superficial oeso phageal cancers, although three of six patients with lesions over 3.0 cm in diameter later died of metastatic disease. The authors believe P DT to be a suitable and effective treatment for early stage lung and o esophageal cancers.